Global data service device connection manager

ABSTRACT

A global data service connection manager determines a shared data account balance for data available to a user as a function of data amounts previously made available to a shared data system by the first user for the use of other registered users. In response to a request by the first user to execute a data transaction by using data from the shared system, the shared data account balance and the data available at the brokered purchase price are automatically arbitrated to acquire at least one of data from a wireless service account of another registered user of the shared system in an amount that does not exceed the first user&#39;s shared data account balance, and data purchased from a wireless service account of another registered user of the shared system in a purchased amount that does not exceed data available at a brokered purchase price.

BACKGROUND

Programmable devices may have a number of options to select between toengage in data communications with public and private local areanetworks (LANs) and wide-area networks, including the internet. Forexample, a device may select at any given time between available wiredEthernet cable connections to a LAN, wireless network connections to awireless fidelity (“Wi-Fi”) router, and cellular telephone account dataservice connections.

Wireless connection choices may vary greatly as to levels of service,security attributes, and cost. Some of the differences are based onvariations in national or geographic locations. A smart phone or othermobile device with a wireless, satellite or cellular data connection mayeasily re-establish connections in an area previously visited via theuse of credentials acquired and stored during the previous visit, forexample in a coffee shop or restaurant that the user regularlypatronizes. However, establishing such connections in a new area may becumbersome or difficult, or expose the user to security risks, forexample to the possible cloning or theft of user ID credentials, accountinformation, etc.

Accordingly, users may rely instead on cellular data service plans fortheir data needs in unfamiliar or new locations away from known secureareas. However, cellular data plans may be limited in the amounts orrates of data available, or available for an efficient pricing. Usersexceeding a threshold maximum data allowance per device or per a giventime period for each account or user may incur significant financialcosts for electing to use cellular data connections over other availableoptions.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present invention, a method for a global dataservice connection manager includes determining a shared data accountbalance for data available to a first user as a function of data amountspreviously made available to a shared data system by the first user forthe use of other registered users of the shared data system. A currentmarket purchase price is determined for data available now and brokeredby the system to the first user from offers available from one or moreother registered users of the shared data system. In response to arequest by the first user to execute a data transaction for a registeredconnection by using data from the shared system, the shared data accountbalance and the data available at the brokered purchase price areautomatically arbitrated to acquire an amount of shared data from awireless service account of another registered user of the shared systemvia a registered network connection, in a shared amount that does notexceed the shared data account balance of the first user; and an amountof purchased data from a wireless service account of another registereduser of the shared system a registered network connection, in apurchased amount that does not exceed an amount of the data available ata brokered purchase price.

In another aspect, a system has a hardware processor in circuitcommunication with a computer readable memory and a computer-readablestorage medium having program instructions stored thereon. The processorexecutes the program instructions stored on the computer-readablestorage medium via the computer readable memory and thereby determines ashared data account balance for data available to a first user as afunction of data amounts previously made available to a shared datasystem by the first user for the use of other registered users of theshared data system. A current market purchase price is determined fordata available now and brokered by the system to the first user fromoffers available from one or more other registered users of the shareddata system. In response to a request by the first user to execute adata transaction for a registered connection by using data from theshared system, the shared data account balance and the data available atthe brokered purchase price are automatically arbitrated to acquire anamount of shared data from a wireless service account of anotherregistered user of the shared system via a registered networkconnection, in a shared amount that does not exceed the shared dataaccount balance of the first user; and an amount of purchased data froma wireless service account of another registered user of the sharedsystem via a registered network connection, in a purchased amount thatdoes not exceed an amount of the data available at a brokered purchaseprice.

In another aspect, a computer program product for a global data serviceconnection manager has a computer-readable storage medium with computerreadable program code embodied therewith. The computer readable hardwaremedium is not a transitory signal per se. The computer readable programcode includes instructions for execution which cause the processor todetermine a shared data account balance for data available to a firstuser as a function of data amounts previously made available to a shareddata system by the first user for the use of other registered users ofthe shared data system. A current market purchase price is determinedfor data available now and brokered by the system to the first user fromoffers available from one or more other registered users of the shareddata system. In response to a request by the first user to execute adata transaction for a registered connection by using data from theshared system, the shared data account balance and the data available atthe brokered purchase price are automatically arbitrated to acquire anamount of shared data from a wireless service account of anotherregistered user of the shared system via a registered networkconnection, in a shared amount that does not exceed the shared dataaccount balance of the first user; and an amount of purchased data froma wireless service account of another registered user of the sharedsystem via a registered network connection, in a purchased amount thatdoes not exceed an amount of the data available at a brokered purchaseprice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of embodiments of the present invention will bemore readily understood from the following detailed description of thevarious aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a cloud computing node according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a cloud computing environment according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a computerized aspect according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustration of a method or process according toan aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

It is understood in advance that although this disclosure includes adetailed description on cloud computing, implementation of the teachingsrecited herein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage,or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exceptionof limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure comprising anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrative cloud computing environment 50 isdepicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 comprises one or morecloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used bycloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA)or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54C,and/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 maycommunicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physicallyor virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community,Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combinationthereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offerinfrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloudconsumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shownin FIG. 1 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type ofcomputerized device over any type of network and/or network addressableconnection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 2, a set of functional abstraction layers providedby cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 1) is shown. It should beunderstood in advance that the components, layers, and functions shownin FIG. 2 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layers andcorresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include: mainframes 61; RISC(Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers 62;servers 63; blade servers 64; storage devices 65; and networks andnetworking components 66. In some embodiments, software componentsinclude network application server software 67 and database software 68.

Virtualization layer 70 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers71; virtual storage 72; virtual networks 73, including virtual privatenetworks; virtual applications and operating systems 74; and virtualclients 75.

In one example, management layer 80 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning 81 provides dynamic procurement ofcomputing resources and other resources that are utilized to performtasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing 82provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloudcomputing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may comprise applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal 83 provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management 84provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such thatrequired service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planningand fulfillment 85 provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of,cloud computing resources for which a future requirement is anticipatedin accordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 90 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation 91; software development and lifecycle management 92; virtualclassroom education delivery 93; data analytics processing 94;transaction processing 95; and processing 96 for a global data serviceconnection manager as described below.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of an example of a programmable deviceimplementation of a computer node according to an aspect of the presentinvention, which may function as a cloud computing node within the cloudcomputing environment of FIG. 2. Programmable device implementation isonly one example of a suitable implementation and is not intended tosuggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality ofembodiments of the invention described herein. Regardless, theprogrammable device implementation is capable of being implementedand/or performing any of the functionality set forth hereinabove.

A computer system/server 12 is operational with numerous other generalpurpose or special purpose computing system environments orconfigurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments,and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with computersystem/server 12 include, but are not limited to, personal computersystems, server computer systems, thin clients, thick clients, hand-heldor laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems,set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs,minicomputer systems, mainframe computer systems, and distributed cloudcomputing environments that include any of the above systems or devices,and the like.

Computer system/server 12 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 12 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

The computer system/server 12 is shown in the form of a general-purposecomputing device. The components of computer system/server 12 mayinclude, but are not limited to, one or more processors or processingunits 16, a system memory 28, and a bus 18 that couples various systemcomponents including system memory 28 to processor 16.

Bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation,such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and PeripheralComponent Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 12 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 12, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 28 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30 and/or cachememory 32. Computer system/server 12 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 34 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 18 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 28 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in memory 28 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 42 generally carry out the functions and/ormethodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein.

Computer system/server 12 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24, etc.;one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computersystem/server 12; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.)that enable computer system/server 12 to communicate with one or moreother computing devices. Such communication can occur via Input/Output(I/O) interfaces 22. Still yet, computer system/server 12 cancommunicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 20. As depicted, network adapter 20communicates with the other components of computer system/server 12 viabus 18. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardwareand/or software components could be used in conjunction with computersystem/server 12. Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode,device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays,RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

FIG. 4 (or “FIG. 4”) illustrates a computer implemented (method orprocess) of an aspect of the present invention for a global data serviceconnection manager. A processor (for example, a central processing unit(CPU)) executes code, such as code installed on a storage device incommunication with the processor, and thereby performs the process stepelements illustrated in FIG. 4.

At 102, a requesting (first) user requests access to a shared datasystem according to the present invention, via a communication of amobile programming device to a wireless, cellular, Ethernet or otherdata node of the system.

At 104, access is granted to the shared data system to the first user,in response to detecting cookies or other credentials stored on the userdevice; in response to input of the user ID and password created aboveat 102 or previously, etc.; or in response to a creation of an accountby the first user, wherein the first user is routed to a graphical userinterface (GUI) dashboard or panel that is displayed to the user on adisplay device included within or in communication with the usersprogrammable device. If the request at 102 is the first time the userhas requested access to the system resources, the first user isgenerally required to register at 104, for example via accessing into aregistration link within an index wherein the user enters general uniqueuser identification information and device-specific information (thismay include hardware identification indicia or http addresses acquiredin the background, without user action or intervention). Thus, thesystem may then create a unique user identification (“ID”) and passwordfor the first user to access the shared data account in granting accessat 104.

At 106, the user uses the dashboard to register his one or more of theuser's currently available wireless connections into the shared datasystem, for example by entering unique user and/or device-specificidentity (ID) information, for example media access control (MAC)address, Wi-Fi identifier and/or password. The registration informationmay also include mobile device attributes relevant to the transfer orreceipt of data via the connection, type of cellular data network adevice is currently using or capable of using (Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA), Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), Long TermEvolution (LTE), version or speed quality thereof such as 3G, 4G, Edge,etc.) The registration information may also include user preferences,including threshold maximum data amounts or rates that the user willpurchase at market rates through the system (as discussed below),specific days to purchase data or share data with others via theconnection, specific hours to share the connection, etc.

In some aspects at 107, the system reviews the registration informationprovided by the user and requests that the user revise one or more ofthe user and/or device-specific information inputs to conform to minimumstandards or otherwise enhance ease or stability of connection to theshared data system. For example, the user may be prompted at 107 toselect a preferred connection if alternatives are available, such asWi-Fi instead of Bluetooth® or Airdrop®) (BLUETOOTH is a registeredtrademark of Bluetooth SIG in the United States and other countries;AIRDROP is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. in the United Statesand other countries.) The user may also be prompted at 107 to createunique names for the registered connections that are sufficientlydistinct from other connection names and complex enough to reduceprobabilities that the name can be replicated by an unauthorized user.In some aspects the user is given a separate panel at 107 to edit theconnection information as needed.

Thus, at 108 each connection established (registered) by the user at 106(and approved at 107) is assigned a unique identifier within the shareddata system (for example, “MXGDL345820”).

At 110 the system determines a shared data account balance for the userof data available via the registered connections. The shared dataaccount balance is determined to correspond to a value of data amountspreviously made available or provided to the system by the user for theuse of other users within the system, for example over a certain timeperiod, such as during a current or last monthly or other billing periodof a cellular data service provider, or as a running amount aggregatedover time, less data acquired by the user from the system.

At 112 the system determines a current market purchase price for dataavailable now and brokered by the system to the first user from offersavailable from one or more other (“second”) registered users, and/or acurrent market sales price for consideration to the first user for thesale of amounts of data service of the registered connection(s) of thefirst user to the system for sharing with the other registered users.

At 114, in response to a request by the first user to execute a datatransaction for his or her registered connections using data from theshared system, the system automatically arbitrates between the shareddata account balance and the brokered offered amounts to acquire data inrespective amounts from either or both of the accounts that satisfy datarequirements and user preferences. More particularly, the amounts ofshared data and purchased data are acquired from wireless serviceaccounts or devices of other registered user of the shared system vianetwork connections registered on the shared system.

Examples of the requested data transaction include a request to accessthe internet via a web browser, to stream video or audio data via abrowser or application from a designated internet protocol address site,to upload video or image or other data to a cloud storage address, andstill others will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In some examples, the user preferences provide a default setting whereindata is acquired entirely first from the shared data account balanceuntil that balance is exhausted (is no longer a positive value), andthen the remainder of what is needed to satisfy the data request isprogressively purchase from lowest priced ones of the brokered offersfrom the second registered user(s) until each of the lowest priced offeramounts are progressively exhausted, and then from a next lowest-priceoffer, etc.

Alternative user settings or preferences may cause the arbitration at114 to select based on the brokered offer pricing, automaticallyacquiring data first from the lowest priced ones of the brokered offersfrom the second registered user(s) until the brokered price of remainingoffers exceeds a maximum threshold, wherein additional required amountsare acquired from the shared data account balance until the balance isexhausted (is no longer a positive value), and then remainder amountsare progressively purchased again from a next lowest-price offer, etc.

At step 116, the shared system acquires an amount of data from acellular or other data service of one or more of the registered firstuser connections for the use of another (second) user of the sharedservice system and credits the shared balance of the first user orcompensates the first user for a monetary value of the acquired data ata market pricing established by the system, as a function of userpreferences.

Wherein two or more registered connections are available to a requestinguser, aspects may enable the simultaneous use of multiple connectionsfor getting data (for example at 114 or 116, FIG. 4), increasingsignificantly the amount of bandwidth available to the requester, and insome redundant configurations ensuring zero downtime due to loss of anyconnection.

In some embodiments, a dashboard is evoked (for example, at 114 or 116,FIG. 4) that displays the shared data account balance and the brokeredoffer and selling prices for the first user data intake and output(sharing), wherein the first user may confirm or override the defaultdata acquisition arbitration and sales settings. The user may use thedashboard to check the status of the connections registered, totals orsubtotal amounts of data transferred or received, current connections,connections history, balances of data enabled to transfer to other usersvia the system (e.g. 2 of 6 GB), associated billing or pre-authorizedcredit cards, etc., and use this data to make informed arbitrationdecisions between the shared data account balance and the brokered offeramounts and prices. Thus, the first user may elect to override anautomated selection of using the shared data account balance to acquiredata (at 114, FIG. 4) to save or bank the shared data balance for afuture use and instead purchase all of the currently needed data fromthe brokered offers, for example in view of expecting or anticipatinghigher costs or needs for data in the future.

Account data balance information conveyed by the dashboard (at 114 or116, FIG. 4) may indicate current value in one or more currencies of thedata usage amount balances (for example, United States dollars ($ USD),Euros, Yuan, Bitcoin, etc.) of amounts currently or historicallyreceived or transferred, and of balances currently available to sell toother users or third parties. This data may be further dependent on andcategorized with respect to each of a plurality of connectionsregistered and enabled by the user.

Pricing and values may be determined (at 110 and 112, FIG. 4) usingoffer and demand logic and algorithms as a function of a quality of themode or type of a user connection, type of data transaction requestedand user ID indicia. For example, a quantity of data made availablethrough a first Asymmetric digital subscriber line (ASDL) connectionthat has an upload transfer speed limited to five megabytes per secondmay have a lower price or value than the same quantity offered through asecond, IEEE 802.11n Wi-Fi connection that has a data transfer speed of600 megabytes per second. Pricing may also be differentiated as towhether the buyer or seller is in or out of the shared data system, forexample quoting a selling price to other registered users within theshared data system at $2.00 USD per gigabyte (GB) and $2.50 USD per GBto non-registered users.

Aspects may set data sales and purchase pricing, and amount values ofdata shared, as a function of cellular pricing structures. For example,a given cellular provider may vary pricing charged to a user based ontotal amounts of data used in a given billing period, with differentamounts billed at different rates per amount used, and wherein saidrates will also vary based on usage location (international versusnational usage, land usage versus plane or ship usage, etc.

Determining or predicting data amounts needed to satisfy a shared datarequest, and to set brokered purchasing and sales pricing, may also bebased on historic user data. For example, the type of the transaction ofa user's data request may be identified, and average historic dataamount for such a transaction be used to predict or estimate how muchshared or purchased data must be acquired to satisfy the transaction,and wherein the user must have enough financial credit to support theamount of the transaction at the current brokered sharing or purchase orsales rate to go forward with the transaction.

The dashboards may also enable the user to edit or revise thisinformation as needed, including replacing a first registered connectionwith a second, higher data rate connection. This may result in anincrease in brokered purchase prices or brokered sales prices,reflecting a higher value for data balances offered for use (sharing) toother system users, or a more expensive cost for using the higher-speedconnection to access data usage by the user.

In some aspects the user may voluntarily decline an offer to sell toanother registered user (at 116, FIG. 4) and await an offer from anotherfor a higher price. In some examples this right may be restricted, suchas to when no other registered users are making purchase offers.

Aspects may also build in a spread between purchase and sell pricing tocover expenses or to provide revenue to a service provider managing andoperating the shared data system, for example, selling for US$2.50 adata usage amount that is purchased from another registered user atUS$2.30.

The dashboards displayed may be customized to corporate users thatadminister or oversee a plurality (two or more) of accounts, optionallyincluding accounts of other users, junior users, heads of familyhouseholds, or managers or supervisors within companies, enterprises,and governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations. Thus,an administrator may use a dashboard to manage budgets by company area,print lists of users, edit user information, check current and historictransactions for each user and manage the data assigned to each user(transfer, assign, remove, etc.). The dashboard can be modified to adaptto small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's), family plans, collegeplans, governmental agencies, organization flow charts, etc.

The shared system acts as a broker, wherein in response to selection ofthe shared system data usage (at 114, FIG. 4) the first user'sregistered device connects with a device of the other, second user, forexample via internet hypertext transfer protocol (“http”) address, or aLAN, Wi-Fi or direct mobile-to-mobile connection such as BLUETOOTH,AIRDROP etc. This enables the first user to access a data service of thedevice of the second user in an amount that is within or otherwiseauthorized by the positive shared data account balance.

In establishing data connections and transfers (at 114 and 116, FIG. 4)the process dynamically monitors current user balance values for sharedsystem data usage, and if the user doesn't have a sufficient balance tosupport a requested data usage the connection ends with a messageinforming the user. Where the users have respective sufficient, positivebalances the system opens requested connections, enables data usage by arequesting user via the shared connections and keeps a running tally ofthe amount of data used, dynamically decreasing the positive balance ofthe requesting user and increasing a positive balance of the other usersupplying the external data usage amount to the requesting user inamounts that are directly related to or proportional or otherwisedetermined as a function of the amount of data usage consumed by therequesting user. The processes may continue (at 114 or 116, FIG. 4)until terminated in response to one user ending the connection, or tothe shared system account balance of a requesting user dropping below apositive value in the case of shared data account balances.

For acquisition of data at brokered market rates a purchasing user mayinitiate connections into shared connections that are inside andregistered on the shared system, or on connections that are outside ofthe system or actively registered. Aspects validate that requesting userhave a cash or credit account with a positive balance in currency, orpre-authorized to purchase data usage at the brokered market rate in anamount sufficient to purchase requested data, otherwise the requestercannot access the other connections, and the connections may beterminated with an appropriate message. Aspects also confirm that thequoted price or rate of the requested data is within user definedparameters (maximum price specifications); if not, the user is informedand given the option to override the conditions or price limits and openthe connection and execute the purchase at the non-conforming conditionsor price.

If an external connection is registered to another user on the sharedsystem, the data usage shared for monetary consideration is tracked withrespect to both users. This may entail the shared data system reducing arequester balance and increasing a balance of the external user that issharing the connection, for embodiments that track and perhaps limit thedirect purchasing of shared data usage outside of the sharing framework.The process continues until terminated in response to one of the usersending the connection, or to the cash or pre-authorized purchasingbalance of the requesting user dropping below a value sufficient topurchase additional shared data.

Prior art methods for managing wireless data communications for a mobileprogrammable device present problems in efficiently managing selectionsbetween available options. While connections are commonly established inthe background in areas previously visited by a user with the devicewithout requiring any action by the user (via the use of credentialsacquired and stored during a previous visit), this convenience is notavailable for a first visit to a new place or area for which storedcredentials are not recognized. Further, current solutions generallypresent multiple offers to join free public Wi-Fi connections, withoutdistinguishing the options meaningfully based connection quality,bandwidth or security attributes.

If the user is not willing to take the time to establish new Wi-Ficredentials for new options presented for selection, the user generallyrelies on cellular data communications that are authorized pursuant to auser account. As the user must generally pay for cellular data service,they must expend financial assets to maintain the cellular service, andin some examples pay additional fees for usage over monthly allotmentswhich would be unnecessary if publicly available Wi-Fi will serve theirneeds and are instead selected.

Alternatively, users may needlessly expose themselves to security risksby using non-secure, public Wi-Fi options when their cellular data usageis well under the limit imposed by their monthly allotment. In such ascenario the user would be better served to maintain better, enhancedsecurity and use their cellular data plan instead. Further, as unuseddata allotments typically expire at the end of each billing period,failing to use all of the data allotted for a given billing periodneedlessly wastes financial resources of a user.

Aspects of the present invention create applications executing on avariety of platforms (personal computer, mobile phone, tablet, globalpositioning satellite (GPS) device, etc.) that manage a plurality ofdata connections registered to a user (or organization associated withthe user) wherein data allotments may be shared or allocated betweenusers. The aspects monitor amounts of the data shared with or obtainedfrom other registered users to generate a shared data system accountbalance report for each user that indicates amounts for each individualuser of data used, shared, purchased, sold or available. A positiveaccount balance for available quantified data usage generally enablesthe user to connect their devices (sometimes to sources linked to theshared account), via registered hotspots, Wi-Fi, BLUETOOTH, AIRDROP andother user devices to access amounts of data usage enabled by thepositive balance, in some cases via connected other users.

According to the present invention the term “data usage amount” will beunderstood to represent any or one more different quantified amounts ofdata usage or access received and sent during a billing or other timeperiod that comprehends size (for example, megabytes (MB's), data rates(MB/time period such as millisecond, second, minute, hour, etc.), timeor rate (seconds or minutes at a specified maximum number of MB's perthe second or minute timeframe, etc.), or a combinations thereof.

If the user cannot find a connection to share and use the positivebalance, the applications may also automatically purchase data credits(MB's, connection time amounts for a specified maximum data rate usage,etc.) using pre-authorized credit cards, bank accounts, etc., at amarket rate or at another rate or price calculated by the application(for example, as a function of current offer and demand data andconditions).

Aspects enable the user to sell unused or excess data allotments fromtheir own data plan to other users at a rate or price calculated by theapplication or a market rate, as well as to sell the data to other userswho are not registered within and are outside of the shared data system,optionally at market or different pricing. Some aspects define terms andassociated values that quantify and distinguish mobile and non-mobiledevice data usage and sharing. One example defines “V-Quir” as a unit ofmeasure of gigabytes (GB) acquired by a user via sharing non-mobileconnections (for example, an Ethernet connection to a LAN), and “M-Quir”as a unit of measure of GB acquired by sharing mobile connections,wherein each has value defined by a currency standard (for example,:United States dollars (USD), Euros (EUR), Bitcoin, etc.).

Aspects measure or trace amounts or rates of data information receivedand sent from or to other registered devices, creating a data usageamount balance value that indicates to each user quantified amount ofdata available from the shared data system. Positive balances can beused to connect a user device by an associated registered account toother devices, and to receive or send data from or to them in amounts orat rates, etc., enabled by the positive balance. In some aspects anegative balance enables the user to automatically purchase data in thebackground (via prepaid accounts, pre-authorized credit or checkingaccount debits, etc.), which may be encouraged and enabled by settingpurchase prices as a fraction of current market pricing otherwiseavailable to the user from sources outside of the present embodimentsystem.

Aspects provide advantages in establishing a new paradigm for efficientaccess to and use of data resources, which may be offered to usersglobally, irrespective of the locations of individual users, creating aworldwide shared data net. Data telecommunications are offered and usedvia a new and novel platform that enables the trade of data servicesbetween countries, people, companies, transforming a local data serviceresource into a global market commodity. The price per units of dataservice is dynamic and dictated by the offer/demand between “senders”and “receivers”.

Aspects determine market pricing for brokered data services as afunction of national location pricing applicable to each user. Cellulardata service costs may vary greatly between different regions within acountry, countries, commonwealth of multi-national trading blocs andcooperative economic structures (for example, the European Union (EU) ascompared to regions outside of the EU). Aspects dynamically determinethe different pricing structures that apply to users as they movebetween different locations, and thereby automatically select lowestcost options for a user at any given time and current location.

The platforms created by aspects of the present invention enableorganizations (corporations, governments, non-governments agencies,etc.) to buy or sell data in response to macro and micro economicpolicies, demand and current and available data service scope andcoverage. Availability of such platforms may encourage service providersto build additional infrastructure, including new high-power, long-rangerouters in order to provide a stronger and longer range signal coveragethat may be marketed or otherwise provided to more users. New,lower-cost options may also be provided for some users, for example ifuser data consumption is low then the user may be better served bycancelling home or office Wi-Fi data services and instead buying theneeded data service from other registered users.

Aspects may provide or increase services in geographic areas that areunderserved by data communication options. For example, there are manyplaces where no Internet connection is available at all, particularly inunder-developed third world regions of the world. Aspects provide aplatform wherein registered users may set up hotspots in such areas andglobally offer excess portions of their data service capabilities to alllocal users able to engage the service (via the registration processesat 106 of FIG. 4. Aspects provide the necessary connectioninfrastructure and automatically set pricing in the background, withoutrequiring any effort on the part of the individual user offering data toshare and thereby encouraging the quick and efficient spread of wirelessdata services to under-served regions. Market values may also be definedas a function of localized currencies of exchange, for example 100 MB ofdata may be priced with respect different quantities of goods orservices as valued within each particular region.

Aspect interfaces may be centralized and manage entirely within serviceprovider firewalls, enabling the use of robust and secure encryptiontechniques, data bases, human resources, locations, web servers, etc.Aspect applications may use different software languages and platforms,depending on the device to be installed.

Service providers may also realize or enhance revenue by includingmarketing advertisements (“ads”) within the application, and sellingdata for use with the registered accounts through retail or third partysuppliers, for example, via data or gift cards in convenience stores.Service providers may also enter into agreements and joint ventures withdata providers in multiple and diverse national and geographicallyseparate locations, to expand and enable the opportunities forregistered users within locations with limited or no reliable Wi-Fisignal. Programs and applications may provide notice of availablelocations via plotting hotspots and affiliated devices on graphic andinteractive maps, enabling rapid result returns for a current locationdetermined via GPS device data or via mapping application searches.

The terminology used herein is for describing particular aspects onlyand is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, thesingular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willbe further understood that the terms “include” and “including” when usedin this specification specify the presence of stated features, integers,steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Certainexamples and elements described in the present specification, includingin the claims and as illustrated in the figures, may be distinguished orotherwise identified from others by unique adjectives (e.g. a “first”element distinguished from another “second” or “third” of a plurality ofelements, a “primary” distinguished from a “secondary” one or “another”item, etc.) Such identifying adjectives are generally used to reduceconfusion or uncertainty, and are not to be construed to limit theclaims to any specific illustrated element or embodiment, or to implyany precedence, ordering or ranking of any claim elements, limitationsor process steps.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for a global dataservice connection manager, the method comprising executing on acomputer processor steps of: determining a shared data account balancefor data available to a first user as a function of data amountspreviously made available to a shared data system by the first user forthe use of a second user registered on the shared data system; and inresponse to a first request by the first user to execute a datatransaction for a registered connection by using data from the sharedsystem, acquiring an amount of shared data from a wireless serviceaccount of the second user via a network connection registered on theshared system, in a shared amount that does not exceed the shared dataaccount balance of the first user.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: integrating computer-readable program code into a computersystem comprising a processor, a computer readable memory in circuitcommunication with the processor, and a computer readable storage mediumin circuit communication with the processor; and wherein the processorexecutes program code instructions stored on the computer-readablestorage medium via the computer readable memory and thereby performs thedetermining the shared data account balance for data available to thefirst user, and the acquiring the amount of shared data from thewireless service account of the second user via the network connectionregistered on the shared system.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein thecomputer-readable program code is provided as a service in a cloudenvironment
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the shareddata account balance for data available to the first user is a functionof data amounts previously made available to the shared data system bythe first user for the use of the second user over a certain timeperiod, such as during a current or last billing period of a cellulardata service provider.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:dynamically increasing the shared balance of the first user as afunction of amounts of data acquired by another user of the sharedservice system from a registered cellular or other data serviceconnection of the first user.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: dynamically reducing the shared data account balance fordata available to the first user in an amount that corresponds to theamount of shared data acquired by the first user from the wirelessservice account of another registered user of the shared system via anetwork connection registered on the shared system.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: determining a current market purchase pricefor data available now and brokered by the system to the first user fromoffers available from another registered user of the shared data system;in response to the first request by the first user to execute the datatransaction for the registered connection by using data from the sharedsystem, automatically arbitrating between the shared data accountbalance and the data available at the brokered purchase price to acquirethe amount of shared data, and an amount of purchased data from awireless service account of an other registered user of the sharedsystem via a network connection registered on the shared system in apurchased amount that does not exceed an amount of the data available ata brokered purchase price, wherein a total of the shared amount and thepurchased amount satisfies a data requirement of the first request. 8.The method of claim 7, wherein the step of acquiring the purchasedamount of data comprises: acquiring a first portion amount of thepurchased amount of data from a lowest priced offer of the first portionamount of a plurality of brokered offers from other registered users ofthe shared system; and acquiring a remainder portion amount of thepurchased amount of data from a next lowest priced offer of theremainder portion amount of the plurality of brokered offers.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: determining a brokered salesprice for consideration to the first user for sale of amounts of dataservice of a registered cellular or other data service connection of thefirst user to the system for sharing with the other registered users;and compensating the first user for a monetary value, determined as afunction of the brokered sales price, for an amount of data acquired byanother user of the shared service system from the registered cellularor other data service connection of the first user.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising: in response to replacing a first registeredconnection with a second, higher-data rate registered connection,increasing the brokered sales price or the brokered purchase price. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein the first requested data transaction isselected from the group consisting of an access via a web browser to theinternet to stream data, and an access via a web browser to upload datato a cloud storage address.
 12. A system, comprising: a processor; acomputer readable memory in circuit communication with the processor;and a computer readable storage medium in circuit communication with theprocessor; wherein the processor executes program instructions stored onthe computer-readable storage medium via the computer readable memoryand thereby: determines a shared data account balance for data availableto a first user as a function of data amounts previously made availableto a shared data system by the first user for the use of a second userregistered on the shared data system; and in response to a first requestby the first user to execute a data transaction for a registeredconnection by using data from the shared system, acquires an amount ofshared data from a wireless service account of the second user via anetwork connection registered on the shared system, in a shared amountthat does not exceed the shared data account balance of the first user.13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor executes the programinstructions stored on the computer-readable storage medium via thecomputer readable memory and thereby: determines a current marketpurchase price for data available now and brokered by the system to thefirst user from offers available from another registered user of theshared data system; in response to the first request by the first userto execute the data transaction for the registered connection by usingdata from the shared system, automatically arbitrates between the shareddata account balance and the data available at the brokered purchaseprice to acquire the amount of shared data, and an amount of purchaseddata from a wireless service account of an other registered user of theshared system via a network connection registered on the shared systemin a purchased amount that does not exceed an amount of the dataavailable at a brokered purchase price, wherein a total of the sharedamount and the purchased amount satisfies a data requirement of thefirst request.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processorexecutes the program instructions stored on the computer-readablestorage medium via the computer readable memory and thereby furtheracquires the purchased amount of data by: acquiring a first portionamount of the purchased amount of data from a lowest priced offer of thefirst portion amount of a plurality of brokered offers from otherregistered users of the shared system; and acquiring a remainder portionamount of the purchased amount of data from a next lowest priced offerof the remainder portion amount of the plurality of brokered offers. 15.The system of claim 12, wherein the processor executes the programinstructions stored on the computer-readable storage medium via thecomputer readable memory and thereby further: determines a brokeredsales price for consideration to the first user for sale of amounts ofdata service of a registered cellular or other data service connectionof the first user to the system for sharing with the other registeredusers; and compensates the first user for a monetary value, determinedas a function of the brokered sales price, for an amount of dataacquired by another user of the shared service system from theregistered cellular or other data service connection of the first user.16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor executes the programinstructions stored on the computer-readable storage medium via thecomputer readable memory and thereby further: in response to replacing afirst registered connection with a second, higher-data rate registeredconnection, increases the brokered sales price or the brokered purchaseprice.
 17. A computer program product for a global data serviceconnection manager, the computer program product comprising: a computerreadable storage medium having computer readable program code embodiedtherewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not atransitory signal per se, the computer readable program code comprisinginstructions for execution by a processor that cause the processor to:determine a shared data account balance for data available to a firstuser as a function of data amounts previously made available to a shareddata system by the first user for the use of a second user registered onthe shared data system; and in response to a first request by the firstuser to execute a data transaction for a registered connection by usingdata from the shared system, acquire an amount of shared data from awireless service account of the second user via a network connectionregistered on the shared system, in a shared amount that does not exceedthe shared data account balance of the first user.
 18. The computerprogram product of claim 17, wherein the computer readable program codeinstructions for execution by the processor further cause the processorto automatically arbitrate between the shared data account balance andthe data available at the brokered purchase price to acquire the data inthe respective amounts by: acquiring the shared data from the at leastone wireless service account of the another registered user of theshared system until the acquired amount of data equals the shared dataaccount balance of the first user; and acquiring the amount of purchaseddata in response to the acquired amount of the shared data equaling theshared data account balance of the first user; and wherein a total ofthe shared amount and the purchased amount satisfies a data requirementof the first request.
 19. The computer program product of claim 18,wherein the computer readable program code instructions for execution bythe processor further cause the processor to acquire the purchasedamount of data by: acquiring a first portion amount of the purchasedamount of data from a lowest priced offer of the first portion amount ofa plurality of brokered offers from other registered users of the sharedsystem; and acquiring a remainder portion amount of the purchased amountof data from a next lowest priced offer of the remainder portion amountof the plurality of brokered offers.
 20. The computer program product ofclaim 17, wherein the computer readable program code instructions forexecution by the processor further cause the processor to: determine abrokered sales price for consideration to the first user for sale ofamounts of data service of a registered cellular or other data serviceconnection of the first user to the system for sharing with the otherregistered users; and compensate the first user for a monetary value,determined as a function of the brokered sales price, for an amount ofdata acquired by another user of the shared service system from theregistered cellular or other data service connection of the first user.